The recent summit in Tuscaloosa, hosted by the Diverse Business Council (DMC) of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, brought together business owners and elected leaders to discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion. With the state of Alabama preparing for significant changes in these areas, the event drew a large crowd of members and guests.
Despite the challenges posed by new laws that ban diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in state institutions and cut state funding for these initiatives, DMC Chairwoman Erica Barnes emphasized the importance of diversity in business and industry. She highlighted the significance of thinking outside the box and the opportunities that come with embracing diversity.
The summit featured two speakers, including Stacia Robinson, the Director of the Alabama Office of Minority Affairs. Robinson spoke about her office’s mission to advocate for women and minorities in areas such as health, education, empowerment, and business support. She emphasized the importance of creating inclusive opportunities for all businesses, regardless of who they are.
Given the upcoming rollbacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, Robinson noted that her office is exempt from these changes. The new law will go into effect on October 1st. Despite these challenges
